The Company of dwarves starts with an eclectic collection of weapons, each more or less personal to them, or that fits their style: Dwalin had the paired axes, etc. We have caught glimpses of various weapons employed, and the art book details these even further. (Ori's slingshot, etc.) soooooo...

After their capture by the elves, they won't have all these. I wonder what they will end up with:

a. On the way from Laketown to the Mountain b. After they choose weapons and armor from the hoard.

Tracking the path of Orcrist will be interesting, presumably, the Elvenking will give it back to Thorin or for the burial.

I guess they will pick up a variety of things in Laketown that are 'best used for fighting dragons'; and Bofur's boar spear would have been handy. What details would you like to see?

From Laketown to the Mountain we must consider what culture has been developed in Laketown to determine what may be available as well as textual clues that the writers might keep consistent. From what we saw in Dale, the parent town, so far we have a Tibetan flavor (Mongol dress, noted the Tibetan Lion sculpture etc..) However thay had no horse culture that I could see (onscreen; and there is none in text). so although right away one might plump for bladed options particularly in the form of curved scimitars for the sake of cosmetic form, but it probably would not be a practical choice for a footed force. As a waterside people spears seem more of an option as they would have developed them for both war and fishing use, as well as possibly local boar and bear hunting. Bifur might find a real gem here, perhaps Bofur as well if they have had similar training in the past. Nets as accompaniment may make sense in Laketown, but with height and arm reach considerations Dwarves might not be able to use these at all even if available. Of course Bard's heritage is of the bow, so this must exist within the combat and hunting culture. Kili might make out well here finding an honored antique. Ori perhaps too, as Laketown children might have use of slingshots as a precourser to learning distance tactics later on with bow as adults. Our tunnel-fighters of old maybe not so much, as Laketown probably will not have a wide selection of blunt or crushing/heavy blades. Ha, Balin might get stuck with a letter opener after all.

So, with a few exceptions, they may not have all theor favorite things heading to the Mountain.

Now the Mountain hoard....cha-ching.

I am looking forward to seeing both beautiful and functional designs here, considering WETA's track record, built by Dwarves and for Dwarves! Weapons which I hope have some stories. Armor as well awaits. Thorin every inch a King in gold. Big fun. ...she took the point at once, but she also took the spoons.

and its return...now that I am NOT looking forward too. My first sense of vague misgiving of the emotional jumbo-sized Acme safe falling on our heads has sharpened to a real DREAD at how this is going to feel. ROTK had layers of ending, to the final bittersweet moment. This is more like layers of ECT. ...she took the point at once, but she also took the spoons.

When I was playing with how it could be layed out in 3 films
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I had imagined maybe putting a lot of that ETC in the beginning as a bit longer frame.

Some of the end isn't really just ect ... and I don't think the sword is part of the ect. I'm thinking more of the journey back and return to Hobbiton. Otherwise the sword and funeral for Thorin etc. would be worth keeping ... although that touching moment of sword sharing is very not-dramatic-cut throat-dragon hoard gold greed-battling for thrones-dark and edgy. I think it is something else, and that something else is worth something.

On the other hand, I could see why ending with a funeral and no pick-me-up after could be a downer.

meant ECT as in electroconvulsive therapy - series of painful shocks delivered in stages, not etc. as in etectera. Mea culpa! was typing fast.

You are completely right, it belongs. Dark? oh yes. But it is going to be very dark before the end. Wondering if Thorin's madness will go the the extreme of redemption only with death. ...she took the point at once, but she also took the spoons.

Methinks he gets a Grand Gold one in the Hoard.. When we see the company at the Front gate? ....... looking down on the Advancing armies they are going to be KILLER! .....wearing the finest heirlooms from their Kingdom.....

Though I'd be even more worried about the emotional jumbo-sized grand pianos...

Have to agree, though. The ending of TABA is going to be hard to stomach, especially since I'm guessing PJ will ratchet up the drama and heartbreak as much as possible. There is no happy ending here, not with *this* version of The Hobbit, where Thorin's story is (yes, I know it's a bit sacrilegious to say this) just as important as Bilbo's. There are too many characters who we're going to care deeply about who are going to either end up dead or griefstricken. I can't believe we're going to hate Thorin (as Richard Armitage suggests) enough to make the losses any easier to take.

its all going to fall. True, its Bilbo's story - but we will love Thorin by the end (some of us already do cough, cough) and watching BILBO's pain at the end is going to be terrible too. In Rivendell when he is weeping I want to run in and hug him; I don't want Bilbo sad or hurting, never ever. Martin Freeman, I'm positive and afraid, is going to do it justice. ...she took the point at once, but she also took the spoons.

The ending was always going to be emotional, but now we have a bunch of rather excellent actors, who are going to milk the ending for all they can. I'm sure MF will manage to pull on the old heartstrings quite expertly. His Bilbo brings out a bit of a protective streak in me I don't even want to think about the dwarves...

I do hope that they keep the story with Orcrist like in the book, though.

And what about the other dwarves' weapons? Will they ever be returned to them? I'd like to think that Dwalin, for example, will get his Grasper and Keeper back eventually, if he has to leave them behind when escaping from Thranduil's place.

With orcrist, Elrond blessed Thorin with its use-essentially he could have kept it, especially since the sack of Gondolin was so tragic and since it was forged by the high elves of the west (hint-the noldorin exiles from Valinor) so for a scholarly and wise and noble Noldorin descended elf lord, allowing the sword to remain in Thorins (a dwarf's) possession was a huge act of goodwill, plus also Elrond was willing to aid them, despite his misgivings about their quest.

Thranduil, on the other hand, was a Sindarin elf sure, but no doubt he would be just as aware of this famous blade and the history surrounding it as Elrond was, or darn near to it. At the very least, he would likely be old enough to know the history of the sword, and with his hatred for dwarves and his unwillingness to aid them (unlike Elrond) I feel that it will be much like the book in that there-is-no-way-in-he**-I'm-letting-a-mere-dwarf-keep-this-sword, but I do feel that in respect for his accomplishments, and his willingness to aid the men and elves in the BO5A, that Thranduil will essentially redeem himself among the dwarves some by placing this magnificent sword atop thorins body in his tomb.

Besides, the dwarves escaped from cells whether they were being held prisoner without even their outer clothing (some of the prod vids show them in the barrels in their long underwear and such) let alone weapons, and it is highly unlikely that given the next time they meet Thranduil its in a very outnumbered battle and at the time they weren't winning he would take the time to say "hey, by the way, were were just arguing and you shot arrows at us in front of your gate an hour ago and I really hate your people and not a month ago had you filthy dwarves rotting in my dungeons which you managed to escape from much to our embarrassment, but I am feeling particulary gracious and since I have this famous sword that was forged in a legendary elven city that now lays under the ocean then stolen from my race during an awful sack of said great elven city that was besought with balrogs and other foul creatures of Morgoth and killing thousands of elves and then disappeared for nearly six thousand years only to be found by you a dwarf whom I despise, and since its not like we are surrounded by orcs and wargs that are intent on murdering us in the most horrific and cruel ways possible, would you like your sword back?"